Bangladesh measles outbreak death toll exceeds 580 as cases surge

Bangladesh is facing a worsening measles outbreak that has claimed at least 588 lives since mid‑March, including 90 confirmed deaths and 498 suspected fatalities. Health authorities report over 72,000 suspected cases and more than 9,000 confirmed infections nationwide.

A national vaccination drive launched on 5 April aimed to immunise 18 million children aged six months to five years, with reported coverage exceeding 100 percent as some older children were also vaccinated. Despite the campaign, hospitals across multiple districts continue to admit measles patients daily, and officials have not monitored antibody development among vaccine recipients.

UNICEF warned the Bangladeshi government for months about vaccine shortages that could fuel the outbreak. UNICEF representatives said letters and meetings were held with health officials as early as 2024, but shortages persisted. The current BNP‑led government has opened an investigation into the crisis, with UNICEF offering evidence to support the probe.